3 - 24 Months
“From tiny Ducklings learning to roll, crawl, stand or take their first steps, to curious Hoglets and Owlets discovering the world around them, saying their first words and forming early friendships. Every day brings gentle care and moments of wonder on the farm.”
Our Youngest Explorers
From the moment your baby arrives at Manor Farm, they’re welcomed into a world of genuinely supportive care, sensory exploration and individual attention. Our three rooms for children aged 3–24 months are designed to support the incredible journey from newborn to confident toddler, with experienced practitioners who understand every stage of development.
Three Rooms
Children move through three beautiful rooms as they grow: Ducklings for our youngest babies (around 3–12 months), then Hoglets and Owlets for mobile children (12–24 months). Each room is designed for their developmental stage, with age-appropriate resources, secure outdoor access and a team who knows every child’s individual needs and personality.
Transitions are gradual and carefully supported, with familiar faces and consistent routines ensuring each child feels safe, settled and ready for the next stage.
Ducklings (3-12 months)
The Ducklings room is a calm, nurturing space where our youngest babies are cared for with warmth and individual attention. Your baby’s key person follows their home routines for feeding, sleeping and play, providing the consistency and security that babies need to thrive. Sensory play, tummy time, gentle songs and stories fill the day, while walks in our three-seater buggies offer views of the farm, chances to see the animals (and sometimes even a sibling) along with plenty of fresh air.
The team communicates regularly with you through our parent app, sharing messages, photos, updates and milestones so you never miss a moment.
In these early stages, staff observe and support children across the three prime areas of development: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), Communication and Language (CL) and Physical Development (PD).
Hoglets (12-24 months)
Hoglets is designed for mobile children who are ready to explore, climb and continue developing across the three prime areas of learning. This is the stage when language grows rapidly, independence begins to flourish and the farm becomes an exciting playground for climbing, sharing and babbling away. Children spend plenty of time outdoors, meeting animals in small groups, splashing in puddles and exploring dedicated age-appropriate play areas.
Indoors, messy play, craft and weekly themed activities help develop fine motor skills, from holding a paintbrush to sticking and placing with growing control.
Owlets (12-24 months)
Owlets runs alongside Hoglets, offering the same developmental focus in a separate room. This allows us to keep group sizes small and ensure every child receives individual attention from practitioners who know their personalities, interests and developmental needs. Children build friendships, develop confidence and begin to express themselves through play, creativity and early language.
Outdoor exploration, farm visits and hands-on experiences bring learning to life every day.
A Typical Day
Every day follows a flexible routine that balances structure with freedom. Each morning and afternoon includes outdoor exploration, themed craft or messy play, snack and mealtimes, and group activities such as singing, rhyming or stories. Children of this age may need two sleeps a day or gradually move towards one midday sleep.
Lunch is freshly cooked each day by our chef, with calm, steady mealtimes that emphasise handwashing and independence from the earliest age. Afternoon sessions include a snack and a light, chef-prepared tea at 4pm, followed by more play, often outdoors again.
Routines are always adapted to each child’s individual needs to ensure everyone gets what they need to thrive. When your little one starts, we’ll discuss the safest way for them to sleep, explain our sleep methods and checks, and make sure everything aligns with home routines. For further guidance, we recommend the Safer sleep overview | The Lullaby Trust.
